Hot millions 1968

Hot Millions is a 1968 caper story made by MGM. It was directed by Eric Till and produced by Mildred Freed Alberg, from a collaborative screenplay by Ira Wallach and star Peter Ustinov. The music score was composed by Laurie Johnson, featuring the single "This Time" from Scottish singer Lulu. The cinematographer was Kenneth Higgins.

Contents

Hot millions 1968 peter ustinov maggie smith

Plot

Con artist Marcus Pendleton has just been released from prison for embezzlement. He has emerged into a world increasingly reliant on computers. He convinces computer programmer Caesar Smith to follow his lifelong dream of hunting moths in the Amazon Rainforest. Assuming Caesar's identity, he gains employment at the London offices of an American conglomerate called Tacanco. While Pendleton fools Executive Vice President Carlton Klemperer, another Tacanco executive, Vice President Willard Gnatpole, is suspicious. As Caesar Smith, Pendleton uses the company's computer systems to send claim cheques to himself under various aliases and addresses all over Europe. For his Paris company the cheques go to 'Claude Debussy'; his cheques to Italy go to 'Gioachino Rossini', both famous composers. He meets and marries Patty, an inept secretary and frustrated flautist. As Caesar, he now has the problem of hiding his hot money. With his new wealth, he conducts an orchestra at the end of the film, with Patty playing flute and Gnatpole and Klemper as the audience.

Cast

Peter Ustinov as Marcus Pendleton / Caesar Smith

Maggie Smith as Patty Terwilliger Smith

Karl Malden as Carlton J. Klemper

Bob Newhart as Willard C. Gnatpole

Robert Morley as Caesar Smith

Cesar Romero as Customs Inspector

Lynda Baron as Louise the Waitress (uncredited)

Locations

In the film, when Maggie Smith's character takes Bob Newhart's character shopping, she is seen buying an outfit at the Apple Boutique on Baker Street, London, which was owned by The Beatles. The boutique only operated for a few months before closing; Hot Millions provides one of the few filmed glimpses of its interior.

The car driven by Bob Newhart’s character is a Jensen Interceptor.

Awards

The film was nominated for an Oscar in 1969 for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen and a Writers Guild of America nomination for Best Written American Comedy.